The Long Night of Centauri Prime (20 page)

"Well said," he chuckled. "Best not to give things too much thought. That way lies madness."

"Speaking of madness, how is the emperor?" The well-delivered jibe prompted an appreciative chuckle from Lione. "I, of course, would never dare to make such an obviously disrespectful comment," he said. "But I suppose that having been married to the emperor at one time accords certain ... privileges. Are you sure you want nothing to drink?"

"Quite sure. What I would like," and she rearranged her skirts delicately around her shapely legs, "is to know why I have been summoned here. I do have a good many things to attend to ..."

"Do you. Do you really." Something in his voice had changed ever so slightly. A slight coldness crept into it, perhaps even a hint of contempt. Lione glanced at his computer screen, apparently checking a file that was displayed upon it.

"Once upon a time, milady, your activities were quite easily tracked. They consisted of a series of public appearances, parties, social engagements at high-profile establishments, and so on. However, I have no clue as to what you might be up to this fine afternoon. No sign of any activities at all. Or perhaps you're simply trying to keep a lower profile these days."

Her lips thinned as her smile dissipated, to be replaced by a hardened look of barely restrained impatience.

"Are you endeavoring to make a point, Chancellor? If so, what are you trying to say?"

"I would assume, milady, that I am not saying anything you do not already know. As closely as we can determine, you have fallen on extremely hard times. You are nearly out of money." Apparently warming to his topic, he leaned forward, interlacing his fingers. "Furthermore, it was bad enough when you were simply divorced by Londo Mollari. But now your former mate has risen to the exalted rank of emperor. That makes you an imperial discard. The men who once flocked to you so eagerly now desire to keep their distance. They do not desire to tempt fate, in the event that the emperor might either form a new attachment to you, or else seek you out for some rather distressing punishment. Your beauty may well be without match, Milady Mariel ... but there remain quite a few women out there to choose from, many of them well-connected. And few of them present anything resembling the potential difficulties that would face anyone seeking your ... favors."

"Did you bring me here to insult me?" Mariel asked. She could feel her irritation mounting quite rapidly. She had not been certain why Lione had wanted to see her, but never would she have been able to guess that it was because he wanted to torment her.

"Not at all." He seemed stricken that she could think such a thing. "Milady, I have nothing but the utmost respect for you. I have brought you here at the suggestion and recommendation of Minister Durla, but also because I genuinely believe that you will fit in nicely with our plans here at the Office of Development. Although what we have in mind is, well well..." And he smiled. "Not precisely within the official purview of this office, if you understand my drift."

"I would like to say that I do, but I would be lying." He stood then. She remained where she was as he sauntered around the room. Since he had only half risen from his chair earlier upon her arrival, she had not realized quite how tall he was. "There is a great deal of resentment toward the Interstellar Alliance, at present," he said.

"At present?" She chuckled lightly. "There has been for some time, and that situation will continue, I'd wager."

"Yes, as would we. And since the IA promises to be something of a presence in the galaxy for some time to come, we have a certain ... obligation, shall we say ... to protect Centauri interests in that regard."

"Protect them how? They have already dropped enough bombs upon us to wipe out a less hardy race. It's a bit late for protection now, is it not?"

He looked out his window, seemingly pleased with the view.

"It is never too late, milady. I am overseeing the creation of a ... a department, if you will. A quiet section of the government that is not of the government ... if you see my meaning."

"I am ... beginning to," she said after a moment of consideration. "You're speaking of a bureau within the Centauri government charged with spying upon the Alliance."

"Please, milady," protested Lione. "`Spying' is such an ugly word."

"Really. What word would you prefer?"

"`Espionage.' Far more elegant, don't you think?"

"You speak of things that could potentially involve great risk," said Mariel thoughtfully. "I do not embark on such undertakings lightly. What would you have me do?"

"Only that which you are more than capable of accomplishing, milady," said Lione. He had been circling the room, but now he stopped next to her. In what might be seen as a somewhat bold move, he rested a hand on her shoulder. "Your beauty, if I may say so, is exceptional."

"You may say so," Mariel told him. "And you are implying that a beautiful woman may accomplish a great many things, particularly when it comes to eliciting information from easily manipulated men."

"Quite."

"But beauty, my dear chancellor, is very much in the eye of he who beholds it," she reminded him. "The most beautiful Centauri woman on the face of this planet may be considered quite hideous by a Drazi, for example."

"True enough," admitted Lione. "But you are overlooking two things. First, there are many cross-species standards for beauty that you already surpass. To Human eyes, you are exceptionally attractive. Also, your features would not be found displeasing by a Minbari. And my understanding is that the Narn ... well, the Narn find pale skin rather exotic, so I'm told."

"You're told correctly," Mariel said, remembering the attentions paid her by G'Kar. Certainly part of their relationship had been spurred by the fact that G'Kar drew great pleasure from cuckolding his old opponent, Londo, but certainly the Narn was attracted to her as a female, as well. "And the second thing that I am overlooking?"

"Charisma, milady. You have a great deal of charisma, and I am certain that it would serve you in good stead, even with those races who would consider a Centauri female to be less than aesthetic."

"Why, Chancellor. You certainly know how to flatter a woman."

"But I do not do so idly, I assure you. I feel you could be a most valuable operative for us, Milady Mariel. And I speak not only in terms of espionage. There may be the occasional requirement for sabotage or..."

"Murder?" she finished the sentence. "Oh, but let me guess: `murder' is a distasteful word as well."

"Since you bring it up ... I personally have always preferred the term `relocation.'"

"`Relocation'?"

"Yes. To the next life."

"Ah." She smiled. Clearly the chancellor was not without a sense of humor, however morbid it might be.

He came full circle around his desk and seated himself once more. "Doubtless you are wondering how this will benefit you directly."

"It did cross my mind. Unless you were intending that I should become involved out of the goodness of my hearts."

"I have no doubt that there is much in your hearts, milady, but how much could be honestly described as 'goodness,' I would not care to find out. In answer to your question: Titles and lands, I regret, presently would be out of my reach to provide you. This aspect of my office must maintain a low profile, and to elevate you in such a manner would be too conspicuous. It might draw questions.

"However, we can easily provide you with attractive remuneration, drawn from certain discretionary funds we have at our disposal. Furthermore, I believe you will find that certain doors to society will slowly begin creaking open for you once again. Your attracting some attention can only be beneficial to the cause. Just ... not too much attention, if you–"

"Understand your meaning? Yes, Chancellor, it's quite clear."

"Your missions would come from this office, and you would answer directly to me."

"And if I were to find myself in any sort of difficulty derived from my espionage activities? If the truth behind one of my `missions' were to come out, and I found myself facing charges of being a spy? What then?"

"Then," sighed Lione, "I am afraid that you would very likely find yourself in rather disastrous straits. Might I suggest that you not be found out?"

"So you are saying I would be considered... disposable." She smiled humorlessly. "It would not be the first time. Since Londo already disposed of Daggair and myself, I have some experience in being considered easily dispensed with."

"Do you think that the lady Daggair would be interested in becoming involved, as well? Or, for that matter, the lady Timov? Granted, she is still the emperor's wife, but our understanding is that there is no love lost between the two of them. She might be willing to accommodate us."

Mariel gave the question some serious consideration. Then, slowly she shook her head.

"I would not, if I were you, Chancellor. Daggair very much enjoys playing at being the manipulator. Politics and gamesmanship are something of a hobby to her. But she remains a dabbler, nothing more, with overmuch confidence in her abilities. I doubt she truly would have the stomach for the stakes that you're describing.

"As for Timov ... you underestimate her, I think. She is superb at developing rationalizations for disliking Londo, but in my opinion, rationalizations are all they are. She was quite young when she married Londo, and she was quite starry-eyed when she did so, although it was an arranged marriage. I believe that some of that stardust remains, although it is very much tucked away in the corners of her eyes where she thinks it will not be noticed. I would not count on her being willing to betray Londo. Furthermore she is far too outspoken, and certainly does not suffer fools gladly. There is no subtlety to her, which would make her a less-than-attractive candidate.

"There are, however, others," she added thoughtfully. "Other individuals who might very well be of the caliber that you are looking for. In my time, I have had the opportunity to make the acquaintance of many `dubious' individuals. I can provide you with a list of names, if you are so inclined."

"You see? Your usefulness to us begins already." Then he tilted his head slightly. "You seem thoughtful, milady. Is all well?"

"I am just ... thinking about the other wives. Londo's, that is. Sometimes I look back on that part of my life as if it was someone else's entirely." She laughed softly. "Do you know what Londo used to refer to us as? `Pestilence, famine, and death.'"

Lione shook his head politely.

"I am afraid I do not understand the reference."

"Oh, it relates to Earth. Londo is quite the aficionado with Earth legend. One of their religions apparently states that, when their judgment day arrives, it will be heralded by four horsemen. And three of them would be pestilence, famine, and death."

"Earth customs seem to hold endless fascination, not only for Londo, but for his former protege, Vir, as well." Clearly struck by a thought, he added, "Who would the fourth horseman in this mythical quartet be?"

She frowned, trying to recall, and then her face brightened.

"Oh yes. War."

"War." Castig Lione chuckled. "Considering where Londo led us to, that is quite appropriate, don't you think?"

"I try not to think, Chancellor," Mariel said. "Oftentimes it gets in the way of living my life."

"So we have an understanding then, milady?"

"Yes. Yes, I believe we do." She extended a hand in a rather elegant fashion and Castig Lione took it suavely and kissed her knuckles. "I can trust to your gentlemanly nature, I assume, to make my `remuneration' a fair one, so that we need not discuss such annoying matters as exact sums at this time?"

"I am quite certain, milady, that you will not be disappointed."

"And I thank you for thinking of me in this matter."

"Well, milady ... as I mentioned earlier ... to be honest, it was Durla who suggested your name to me in connection with our endeavors."

"Durla ..." Her face blanked a moment, and then she recalled once more. "Oh, yes. That minister person. Do be so kind as to pass my thanks along to him, then. And by all means, Chancellor ... do not feel circumscribed by the business nature of our relationship."

"Milady?"

Mariel, clearly not feeling any need to expound beyond that, simply withdrew her hand from his, then walked out of the room, stopping only to toss a small-but-knowing smile over her shoulder.

It seemed to Castig Lione that Durla was taking extreme pains to sound casual when he inquired, "Oh ... and did you have the opportunity to meet with the Lady Mariel?" Durla had regular weekly meetings with Lione to discuss an assortment of projects. Indeed, Durla had meetings with all of the chancellors who answered to him. Lione was accustomed to them. In his case, he would sit there and speak at length about plans of the Development Office, both short- and long-term, and Durla would appear to be listening and nodding, although whether he was truly attending to anything that Lione was saying, Lione never really knew for sure. This time, however, Durla seemed quite attentive. His forced attempts to appear nonchalant came across as just that: forced. Lione wasn't entirely certain why that would be, although he did have his suspicions. "Yes. Yes, I did."

"And how did it go?"

"It went quite well. She is an extraordinary individual, the lady Mariel is. A great deal of charm and personal charisma. Your assorted suggestions for our bureau of espionage have been superb up until now, Minister, but the inclusion of Mariel may well be one of your most perspicacious selections yet."

"Good." The minister said nothing for a time, and Lione couldn't quite tell whether he was expecting Lione to continue speaking or whether Durla was simply lost in thought. To play it safe, Lione said, "I have been giving some thought to naming the division of the bureau, sir."

"Naming?" Durla momentarily seemed puzzled.

"Yes, Minister. Certainly we should have a means of referring to the division that is to oversee the gathering of information and other ... activities ... in regard to the Alliance. However, calling it the Espionage Division would seem a bit obvious."